Wind power installation

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided including a generator, at least two rotor blades coupled to the generator, a pylon, and electrical equipment configured to receive electrical power generated by the generator and located within an internal space of the pylon. The apparatus further includes a dehumidification device adjacent the electrical equipment, the dehumidification device having a first element, a heat transfer element coupled to the first element and configured to remove heat from the first element, and a second element coupled to the heat transfer element and to a wall of the pylon. The second element is configured to receive the heat removed from the first element. The apparatus may include a deflecting structure configured to deflect cooled air toward the second element for extracting the heat received by the second element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/486,617, filed Sep. 8, 2004, now pending, which application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention concerns a wind power installation, in particulara wind power installation having an apparatus for dehumidifying agaseous medium in a substantially closed space within the wind powerinstallation.

2. Description of the Related Art

A dehumidifying apparatus operating on a chemical basis has long beenknown. In that known apparatus moisture is removed from the ambient airchemically and the moisture is collected in a catch container. Thatknown apparatus however suffers from the disadvantage that the chemicalhas to be replaced at certain time intervals in order to maintain properoperability of the apparatus. In relation to a large number ofapparatuses which are to be centrally monitored and maintained, thatrequires additional-expenditure in terms of personnel and logistics.

Dehumidifiers are also known, in which an enclosed space is cooled onthe basis of the operative principle of a refrigerator by way of acompressor/evaporator unit by means of a coolant specifically providedfor that purpose, in order in that way to remove moisture from the aircontained in that space.

With those apparatuses however the structure is complicated andexpensive and in addition it is necessary for the cooling fluid to becollected separately upon disposal.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Therefore the object of the present invention is to develop a wind powerinstallation and in particular to design a wind power installation insuch a way that moisture problems within the wind power installation canbe eliminated in a simple manner.

That object is attained by a wind power installation having the featuresof claim 1. Advantageous developments are set forth in the appendantclaims. In the wind power installation according to the invention theobject is attained by a first flat or air exposed element and a coolingdevice for cooling the element to a temperature below the ambienttemperature (room temperature). At that ambient temperature a part ofthe moisture contained in the air condenses at the surface of the firstelement. That moisture is removed from the ambient air in that way andcan be drained off.

In order to permit maintenance-free long-term operation the coolingdevice is preferably a Peltier element or a group of Peltier elementswhich withdraw heat from the first element and thereby cool thatelement. The heat which is withdrawn from the first element isdischarged to the ambient atmosphere again by way of a second element.

In order to achieve a particularly good effect the second element can beconnected to a wall delimiting the space to be dehumidified or can evenbe formed by that wall.

The condensate water can be discharged into the open through a duct anda wall opening. In that case the wall opening can preferably be providedin the region of the ground in order to avoid traces of dripping wateron outside walls.

In order to prevent the condensate water from uncontrolledly drippingdown within the space in the event of a blockage of the duct fordraining off the condensate water, it is possible to provide a containerwhich catches those drips. Thus the container can be emptied in thecontext of an inspection procedure or after signalling from a sensorsuitably arranged in the container. At the same time the closure of theduct can be removed so that the condensate water is again automaticallyremoved from the space.

In a particularly preferred development of the invention there isprovided a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of thefirst element and a second temperature sensor for detecting the ambienttemperature. The apparatus according to the invention can be controlledby means of those sensors and a control device connected on the outputside thereof, in such a way that the first element is always at apredeterminable temperature difference with respect to the ambienttemperature. A constant dehumidification output can be achieved in thatway.

Advantageous embodiments are recited in the appendant claims.

Room air dehumidifiers are already known from DE-U-92 10 970.5, DE 44 23851, German patent specification No 1 189 250, EP 0 758 730 A2 and U.S.Pat. No. 5,071,027. The use of such room air dehumidifiers within windpower installations has hitherto not been proposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

An embodiment of the invention is described in greater detailhereinafter with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 shows a further view of the apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of an apparatus according to the inventionin the pylon of a wind power installation, and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an apparatus according to theinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a wind power installation according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a portion of the wind power installation of FIG. 5according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 shown therein is a side view of an apparatusaccording to the invention. Disposed between a first element 10 and asecond element 14 is a cooling device 12. The cooling device 12 is aPeltier element operated with electrical power or a group of Peltierelements. It causes transportation of heat from a lateral boundarysurface to the other—in this case the heat is transported from the firstelement 10 to the second element 14.

If the cooling device 12 is acted upon by a suitable current which ispredetermined in respect of amount and direction, heat is withdrawn fromthe first element 10 and transported to the second element 14 where itis in turn discharged to the ambient atmosphere. The first element 10and the second element 14 are preferably in the form of cooling bodies,that is to say flat or air exposed aluminum elements with cooling ribsextending thereon for increasing the effective surface area.

Due to the extraction of heat the first element 10 cools down to belowthe ambient temperature and the moisture contained in the ambient aircondenses at the element 10.

As the surface area-increasing cooling ribs of the first element 10extend vertically, the condensate water can easily drain away downwardlydue to the effect of the force of gravity and can be suitably collectedup and if necessary drained off by means of conduits.

It can be seen from the side view in FIG. 2 that the condensate waterwhich drains off downwardly along the cooling ribs of the first element10 passes into a duct 20 which is passed into the open air through awall 32 so that the condensate water can drain off into the open withoutany problem.

If that duct 20 should suffer from a blockage, there is additionallyprovided a catch space 22 which can store the condensate water so thatit does not drip uncontrolledly into regions below the apparatus.Provided in that catch space 22 is a liquid sensor 24 which can detect arise in the level of liquid and trigger a suitable signal which forexample can be used to cause maintenance personnel to remove the closureof the duct 20 and empty the catch space.

The apparatus has a control device 26 in order to detect the temperatureof the first element 10 by way of a first temperature sensor 16. Theambient temperature is detected by way of a second temperature sensor18. The control device 26 can then derive the required control effectfor the cooling device 12, from the temperature difference andpredetermined reference values. It will be appreciated that this controlsystem can also monitor the liquid sensor 24 and produce and output thecorresponding signals.

FIG. 3 shows a partial view of a pylon 30 of a wind power installation.The apparatus according to the invention which in FIG. 3 is identifiedgenerally by reference numeral 2 is assumed to be arranged approximatelyat a halfway position on the height of the pylon 30. The duct 20 fordraining off the condensate water is laid within the pylon 30 to aposition close to the ground in FIG. 3 and only there issues outwardlythrough the wall 32 of the pylon 30. In one embodiment, the secondelement 14 which receives the heat in directly coupled to the wall 32 ofthe pylon 30, or in one case, is composed of the wall 32 itself, so thata large heat sink mass is provided to assist in the cooling element 10to become very cool easily and without having to heat the element 14itself to a high temperature. Namely, the mass of element 14 forreceiving the heat which is removed from the cooling element 10 can bevery large so that the element 10 can easily become very cool and notcause a corresponding temperature rise in the element 14 which receivesthe heat. That reliably prevents traces of water on the outside of thewall 32.

The preferred position of installation of the dehumidifier according tothe invention is in the region of the base of the tower, butinstallation at other locations on the wind power installation is alsopossible. The region of the base of the tower has the advantage that airwhich has already been dehumidified will pass through the rectifierswhich are usually arranged in the base of the tower.

A further advantageous possible way of draining off the condensate waterfrom the tower is in the region of the access door. The door is fittedin any case as a separate component element into the lower section ofthe pylon. It is possible in that way to avoid a change in structurewhich is essential when making an opening through the wall of the pylon.

FIG. 4 shows a modified representation of FIG. 1. The difference inrelation to FIG. 1 essentially lies in a baffle plate 40 which isarranged above the cooling body (first and second element) 10, 14 andwhich deflects cooled air which is guided along the first (cooling)element by a fan. That cooled air is deflected on to the second (warm)element 14 by the baffle plate 40 and cools the second element. In thatarrangement the baffle plate 40 is held in a predetermined position bysupports 42. For the sake of clarity of the drawing only one support 42is illustrated, but of course others support will be provided as needed.

Accordingly, heat is extracted at the first element 10 from the airflowing therepast, and that heat is transported to the second element 14by the cooling device, usually a Peltier element 12. The baffle plate 40deflects the cooled air to the second element 14 and there the air picksup again the heat previously extracted from it. In that way the fanpower required for cooling the second element 14 and thus the powerconsumption of the apparatus can be reduced.

As described, the function of the cooling device, such as for examplethe Peltier element, is therefore as a primary matter not cooling of theair within the wind power installation but solely dehumidification ofthe interior of the installation, for which reason also the cooled airis deflected from one side of the cooling device to the other and isthen equally warmed again and the temperature in the installation isthus scarcely affected.

Furthermore, in one embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, a wind powerinstallation includes a generator 31 and at least two rotor blades 33coupled to the generator 31. The rotor blades 33 are exposed to wind togenerate electrical power from the wind. The wind power installationfurther includes a pylon 30 supporting the generator 31. The pylon 30includes an internal space, which houses electrical equipment 35configured to receive electrical power generated by the generator 31.The electrical equipment 35 may include a rectifier 37.

Furthermore, a dehumidification device 2 according to embodimentsdiscussed herein or other embodiments within the scope of the presentdisclosure, is positioned at least partially within the internal spaceof the pylon 30 adjacent the electrical equipment 35 to reduce a watercontent of ambient air surrounding the electrical equipment 35 below awater content of ambient air of a surrounding environment external tothe pylon 30. The dehumidification device 2 includes a first element 10positioned within the internal space of the pylon 30, a heat transferelement 12 coupled to the first element 10 and configured to remove heatfrom the first element 10.

At least one dehumidification device 2 further includes a second element14 coupled to the heat transfer element 12 and also to a wall 39 of thepylon 30. The second element 14 is configured to receive the heatremoved from the first element 10. As shown in FIG. 6, in oneembodiment, the wall 39 of the pylon 30 can form at least in part, thesecond element 14.

1. An apparatus comprising: a generator; at least two rotor bladescoupled to the generator, the rotor blades being exposed to wind togenerate electrical power from the wind; a pylon supporting thegenerator, the pylon having an internal space; electrical equipmentconfigured to receive electrical power generated by the generator, theelectrical equipment being located within the internal space of thepylon; a dehumidification device at least partially positioned withinthe internal space of the pylon to reduce a water content of ambient airsurrounding the electrical equipment below a water content of ambientair of a surrounding environment external to the pylon, thedehumidification device including a first element positioned within theinternal space of the pylon, a heat transfer element coupled to thefirst element and configured to remove heat from the first element, anda second element coupled to the heat transfer element and to a wall ofthe pylon, the second element being configured to receive the heatremoved from the first element; and means for collecting and removingthe water content extracted from the ambient air in the internal spaceof the pylon to a surrounding environment external with respect to thepylon.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall to which the secondelement is coupled supports the generator.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein at least a portion of the second element is formed by a portionof a wall of the pylon supporting the generator.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the heat transfer device is interposed between the firstelement and the second element, connecting the first and second elementsto each other.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat transferelement includes at least one Peltier element.
 6. The apparatus of claim1 wherein the means for collecting and removing includes at least one ofa catch unit and a sensor operable to communicate collection of thewater content beyond a particular volume.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the water content is received by the first element andcommunicated to the means for collecting and removing.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising: a first sensor configured to detect atemperature of the first element; a second sensor configured to detectambient temperature; and a control device electrically coupled to thefirst and second sensors, the control device being configured to receivetemperature data from the first and second sensors and process the datato set the temperature of the first element.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8wherein the control device is configured to vary power supplied to theheat transfer element to set the temperature of the first element. 10.The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the control device is configured to setthe temperature of the first element below ambient temperature.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and secondelements includes a plurality of ribs configured to maximize an exposedarea thereof.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electricalequipment includes a rectifier.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thedehumidification device is positioned adjacent the electrical equipment.14. An apparatus comprising: a generator; at least two rotor bladescoupled to the generator, the rotor blades being exposed to wind togenerate electrical power from the wind; a pylon supporting thegenerator, the pylon having an internal space; electrical equipmentconfigured to receive electrical power generated by the generator, theelectrical equipment being located within an internal space of thepylon; a dehumidification device at least partially positioned withinthe internal space of the pylon adjacent the electrical equipment toreduce a water content of ambient air surrounding the electricalequipment below a water content of ambient air of a surroundingenvironment external to the pylon, the dehumidification device includinga first element positioned within the internal space of the pylon, aheat transfer element coupled to the first element and configured toremove heat from the first element, and a second element coupled to theheat transfer element, the second element being configured to receivethe heat removed from the first element; and a deflecting structurecoupled to a portion of the dehumidification device and configured todeflect cooled air surrounding the first element or the heat transferelement, toward the second element for extracting the heat received bythe second element.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: afan positioned adjacent the first element or the heat transfer elementand configured to facilitate direction of the cooled air toward thedeflecting structure and the deflection of the cooled air toward thesecond element.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the second elementis coupled to a wall of the pylon.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 whereinthe second element is formed at least in part by a portion of a wall ofthe pylon.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the wall of the pylonforming at least in part the second element supports the generator. 19.The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: means for collecting andremoving the water content extracted from the ambient air in theinternal space of the pylon, to a surrounding environment external withrespect to the pylon, the means for collecting and removing including acatch unit for collecting the water content.
 20. The apparatus of claim19, further comprising: a sensor operable to communicate collection ofthe water content beyond a particular volume.
 21. The apparatus of claim14 wherein at least one of the first and second elements includes aplurality of ribs configured to maximize an exposed area thereof.